'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎116] (135/622)

116
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
Island, for the use of the ' Hugh Lindsay,' but, on the occasion
of her first visit to Aden, it was found difficult to obtain labour,
and six days were occupied in taking on board 180 tons of
coal. For this and other reasons, Maculla was selected as a
coaling station for the steamers engaged in the overland com
munication. Commander Haines, then engaged in the survey
of the south-east coast of Arabia, arrived at Aden in 1835; and
two of his officers visited the Sultan at Lahej, who treated them
well, and requested the assistance of the British in an expedi
tion he contemplated against the Foudtheli tribe, whose chief
port is Shugra, in retaliation for a recent attack made by them
upon Aden; but of course the request was refused. In the
following year the Foudthelis again attacked Aden, which they
sacked, and carried off property to the value of 30,000 dollars;
they also exacted a tribute for the future of one dollar per
diem.
On the 4th of January, 1837, the Madras ship c Deria Dowlut,'
belonging to a niece of the Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. of the Carnatic, and sailing
under British colours, went on shore in the bay of Koobet
Sailan, a few miles distant from Aden. She had a valuable
cargo on board, and a considerable number of pilgrims bound
for Jiddah; and, at daylight, was boarded by crowds oi Arabs
from Aden, who plundered her of everything that could be re
moved. The passengers, amongst whom were several ladies of
rank, landed on rafts, in doing which fourteen perished. The
survivors were seized by the Arabs, stripped naked, and the
females subjected to the most brutal indignities, and only saved
from being carried off into the interior by the intercession of
an influential family in Aden, who supplied them with food
and clothing. The Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. felt bound, not
merely to demand redress for this outrage, but to take^ such
further precautions as should preclude the recurrence of similar
atrocities. For this purpose Commander Haines, who was still
engaged surveying on the south coast of Arabia, was recalled
and despatched to Aden in the Hon. Company's sloop-of-war
'Coote,' with instructions, in the event of his negotiations
proving successful, to endeavour to obtain the place by purchase,
in order that British commerce in the Red Sea might be placed
on a safer footing for the future, and that a secure coal depot
for the vessels engaged in the overland transit might be esta
blished. Commander Haines arrived at Aden on the 28ta
of December, 1837, and landed on the 4th of January following,
w T hen he had his first interview with the Sultan ; the latter
denied, most solemnly, all knowledge of, or participation in?
the atrocity with which he was charged, but, as the property
captured in the 'Deria Dowlut' was being sold publicly in t e
market, his assertion was not believed. A formal demand was.
accordingly, made for the sum of 12,000 dollars as an indemnit}?